Women's Basketball | 1/16/2015 6:51:00 PM

Wingate, N.C.----The Wingate University women's basketball team hosts Tusculum College Saturday for a 2 p.m. South Atlantic Conference contest in Cuddy Arena and Thomas Koontz Family Court. On Wednesday, Wingate (10-6 overall, 8-1 SAC) won its eighth straight league contest and sixth consecutive triumph overall with a 67-50 road victory at Queens University of Charlotte.
 
Coupled with Carson-Newman's 77-76 overtime loss at Brevard Wednesday, the Bulldogs gain sole possession of first place in the SAC standings. Tusculum enters Saturday's contest 3-9 overall and 3-6 in the SAC. The Pioneers have lost four of their last five games, including a tough 85-80 league decision at Lincoln Memorial Wednesday night.
 
Wingate graduate student forward Chantal Dunbar (Virginia Beach, Va.) recorded her 18th career double-double with 13 points and 10 rebounds to top the Bulldog charts at Queens Wednesday. Three players hit double figures for the visiting Bulldogs, as senior guard Kelli Bonner (Yadkinville, N.C.) and sophomore guard Shelby Tricoli (Waynesville, N.C.) contributed 12 and 11 points, respectively.
 
The Bulldogs and the TC Pioneers will play for the second time this season. On Saturday, Nov. 22, Wingate junior forward Morgan McGee (Durham, N.C.) posted a career-high 30 points to lead the Bulldogs to a 79-72 SAC triumph over Tusculum in Pioneer Arena. McGee recorded a double-double, as she matched a career-high with her second consecutive 12-rebound performance.
 
McGee hit 11-of-21 field goals and seven-of-10 free throws in the first meeting between the two teams. McGee also hit one three-point field goal. Bonner had 13 points, three assists and two steals. The Starmount product hit three-of-seven buckets from beyond the three-point line.
 
Wingate never trailed in the November contest. Bulldog redshirt senior guard Brittany Hill (Mechanicsville, Va.) had six points, six assists, five rebounds and three steals in 34 minutes. Her playing time was second only to Bonner's 36 minutes. Sophomore guard Alex Tomlinson (Raleigh, N.C.) added five assists as Wingate recorded 21 helpers on 27 made baskets.
For Tusculum, senior forward Rainey Story (Greeneville, Tenn.) had 21 points and six rebounds. TC sophomore guard Maelyn Cutshaw (Greeneville, Tenn.) added 11 points and a team-best five assists. Junior forward Kristen McMillion (Fayetteville, N.C.) contributed seven points, 11 rebounds and four blocked shots.

McGee leads the Bulldogs' active players with her 11.2 points per game. Dunbar is next with 10.4 points per game and a team-best 9.7 rebounds per game. Dunbar's rebounding average is second on the SAC charts to Newberry senior center Haylee Lepaio (Bathurst, New South Wales, Australia) and her 9.8 rebounds per game. Dunbar averaged a double-double in 2012-13 with 11.3 points per game and 10.1 rebounds per game.
 
Wingate is allowing only 62.0 points per game, third on the league charts to Newberry (58.7) and Lenoir-Rhyne (61.5). By contrast, Tusculum is 12th in the SAC with its 77.5 points per game allowed. The Pioneers score at a 70.7 points per game clip, with three players in double figures: junior guard Shynese Whitener (Newton, N.C., 14.3 points per game), Cutshaw (13.6) and Story (12.5). McMillion leads the 'Neers in rebounding with her 8.3 boards per game.
 
The Bulldogs host Catawba Wednesday night (6 p.m.) to conclude a four-home-games-in-five-dates stretch. The Catawba Indians handed Wingate its only conference loss to date, a 67-55 decision on Wednesday, Nov. 19. The Pioneers continue their road swing Wednesday, visiting local rival Carson-Newman.